Hospitals by City

Hospitals by County

About Hospitals

Do Hospital emergency rooms require proof of insurance?

The Emergency Treatment and Labor Act gives individuals the right to emergency care regardless of their ability to pay. Nevertheless, Hospital staff will ask for insurance information, if possible, upon a patient's arrival. Hospitals are not obligated to treat uninsured patients that are not experiencing an emergency.

Are patients entitled to copies of their Hospital records?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act entitles all patients to have access to their medical records. Most Hospitals will require an authorization form and picture identification before releasing medical records. In rare cases, a Hospital may withhold certain information, such as psychotherapy notes.

How do Hospitals determine how much to bill for services?

Hospitals develop a list of charges for each of the Hospital's procedures and supplies. The list, referred to as the Chargemaster, covers thousands of items and forms the basis for billing patients and third party payers.